Today we’d like to introduce you to Brendan Buckley.
Hi Brendan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in a suburban town in northern New Jersey. We had sports, skateboarding, lakes, mountains. But this was also the height of the MTV generation. Every kid wanted to be in a band. While I studied formal music at school (piano and trumpet), I also jammed after school with my friends in my garage. I fell in love with the drumset. My obsession with the drums led me to study down in Florida at the University of Miami’s School of Music. Miami was an exciting city to spend your late teens and early 20s. There was so much to see, eat, learn, and do. My career as a musician began there, working with artists such as Shakira, Fulano, Julio Iglesias, Nil Lara, Gloria Estefan, Alejandra Guzman, and DMX. On my 30th birthday, my wife and I decided to move to Los Angeles for a change of scenery. We gravitated toward its beautiful weather and local music scene. In Los Angeles, I began working with fantastic artists such as: Morrissey, Perry Farrell, Tegan & Sara, Minnie Driver, Shelby Lynne, Beto Cuevas, Daniel Powter, Damien Rice, Leehom Wang, Melissa Ethridge, Miley Cyrus, JJ Lin, Roberto Carlos, and Paulina Rubio. I built a music studio which allowed me to record drums for clients and teach lessons to other aspiring drummers. Now, I spend my time touring with artists, recording music, teaching lessons, and hanging out with my family.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The life of a freelance musician is far from “smooth.” Nothing is ever steady or predictable. It is quite challenging to plan or expect anything. Tour dates get moved often. Concerts get canceled. Many projects overlap in inconvenient ways. Budgets can go up or down. But that being said, I love the drums. There is something about their power, expression, and complexity that still captivates me. And this is what keeps me going year after year.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a freelance drummer based out of Los Angeles. I have been a member of Shakira’s band since 1998. Currently, I am touring with artists Morrissey and Perry Farrell. I also host a drum duet series online called DrummerPlusDrummer.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I had a fairly normal childhood. I was curious. I liked exploring all sorts of activities with my friends. My family lived close to New York City, so there was a lot of stimulation coming from that mega-center. My Irish father was quite good at having fun, organizing social events, and providing for the family. My Korean mother excelled at keeping me on track scholastically. I always had a fascination with music: albums, bands, live concerts, videos, musical instruments. My parents still live in my childhood home, so I return often to recharge and connect with my New Jersey upbringing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brendanbuckley.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendanbuckley/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrendanBuckleyMusic
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/brendandrums
- Youtube: http://youtube.com/relombakurunda
Image Credits
Mari Buckley
Pierre Martin
Alex Kluft
Lloyd Bishop
